TestGuild Automation Podcast - podcast cover

TestGuild Automation Podcast

Joe Colantoniotestguild.com
TestGuild Automation Podcast (formally Test Talks) is a weekly podcast hosted by Joe Colantonio, which geeks out on all things software test automation. TestGuild Automation covers news found in the testing space, reviews books about automation, and speaks with some of the thought leaders in the test automation field. We'll aim to interview some of today's most successful and inspiring software engineers, and test automation thought leaders.
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Episodes

AI Won't Replace Great Test Leaders with Mike Lyles

In the age of AI, the role of software testers is evolving fast. Don't miss the QA Summit: https://testguild.me/qasummit As more repetitive tasks are automated or handled by AI, the testers who will stand out are those who lead, influence, and bring deep subject matter expertise to their teams. In this exclusive replay from a private Automation Guild 2025 monthly gathering, testing leader Mike Lyles shares exactly how to build those skills — and position yourself for long-term success in the AI ...

Aug 10, 202545 min

How to Build a Culture of Comprehensive Quality with Matt Gilbert

On this episode of the TestGuild Automation Podcast, host Joe Colantonio welcomes Matt Gilbert, founder of Clear Insight, for a conversation packed with practical wisdom for testers looking to break into, or advance in, modern software quality practices. Drawing on his experience working across industries such as insurance, healthcare, and SaaS, Matt shares how he transitioned from an aspiring developer to a passionate advocate for testing. They dive deep into the challenges of uniting disparate...

Jul 28, 202523 min

No Scripts, No Frameworks, No Maintenance? with Don Jackson

In this episode of the TestGuild Automation Podcast, I'm joined by Don Jackson, Technical Evangelist at Perforce, to explore a bold new frontier in automation testing: true agentic AI. We unpack the groundbreaking tech behind Perfecto's latest release and what it means to test smarter, faster, and with zero hassle. Don shares how this new form of automation, powered by natural language, computer vision, and LLMs, lets you test like a human but with the speed of AI. No scripts. No frameworks. No ...

Jul 21, 202534 min

Making QE Matter to the C-Suite with Parasar Saha

In this episode, Parasar Saha founder and CEO of Digy4 shares insights from his journeys across multiple countries, meeting with global enterprises to uncover real-world challenges teams face in achieving quality at scale. The discussion dives into the importance of data visibility, the pitfalls of focusing on the sheer quantity of tests over their real value, and how testers can transform technical data into business outcomes that resonate with the C-suite. Parasar reveals why most organization...

Jul 13, 202529 min

Exploring Playwright and MCP with Debbie O'Brien

In this episode, host Joe Colantonio sits down with Debbie O'Brien, Principal Technical Program Manager at Microsoft and a leading advocate for Playwright end-to-end testing. Debbie shares her fascinating journey from web design in the late '90s to building and nurturing the Playwright community at Microsoft. Together, they tackle the latest and greatest in test automation, with a special focus on Playwright's Model Context Protocol (MCP) server and how you can unlock its powerful AI-driven brow...

Jul 06, 202532 minEp. 552

Solving Challenges in Software Testing with Kristijan Plaushku

On this episode of the TestGuild Automation Podcast, host Joe Colantonio welcomes Kristijan Plaushku, founder of QA Robots, for a fascinating deep dive into the evolving world of testing and automation. Grab the free Testing Toolkit now: https://testguild.me/toolkit Broadcasting from Italy, Kristijan shares his journey from starting in quality assurance at AS Watson to building his own company, dedicated to reshaping how businesses approach QA, automation, and DevOps integration, with a specific...

Jun 29, 202530 min

WireMock with Tom Akehurst

In this episode, we sit down with Tom Akehurst, the creator of WireMock, the popular open-source API mocking tool now powering simulation at scale in modern development pipelines. We unpack the real-world benefits of API mocking, when to simulate vs. integrate, and how WireMock Cloud is helping teams manage drift, complexity, and change. If you're exploring API testing, mocking tools, or wondering how OpenAPI, AI, and MCP (Model Context Protocols) fit into the picture—this one's for you....

Jun 22, 202539 min

Mastering Medical Device Testing with Priyank Soni

In today's show, we're diving deep into the highly specialized world of software testing for medical devices. Our guest, Priyank Soni, brings over 20 years of experience and a wealth of knowledge from the front lines of medical innovation, think cardiac mapping, lab automation, and infusion pumps. Not only is Priyank a recognized authority in embedded systems, AI, and machine learning, but he's also a master at transforming manual QA processes into scalable, cloud-based automated frameworks. Joi...

Jun 15, 202533 min

What is Reverse Mutation Testing with Leonardo Lanni

In this session, host Joe Colantonio sits down with Leonardo Lanni, a globally recognized quality engineer and founder of QA Roots, to explore a cool testing technique: mutation testing and reverse mutation testing. See if your apps are visual perfect with App Percy: https://testguild.me/apppercy Leonardo breaks down the concepts behind mutation testing, which is an innovative approach to verifying the effectiveness of your tests by intentionally introducing code changes—and introduces the idea ...

Jun 01, 202539 min

The Importance of Trust in Software Testing and AI with Damian Synadinos

On this episode of the TestGuild Automation Podcast, host Joe Colantonio sits down with Damian Synadinos, a multifaceted expert with over thirty years of experience in software testing, public speaking, improv, and more. 👉 Try Percy now and ship with confidence: https://testguild.me/percyvisual Together, they dive deep into the concept of trust in software testing, how it's formed, the dangers of misplaced trust, and why trust is more crucial than ever in today's rapidly evolving world of AI an...

May 25, 202527 min

Building a Career in QA with Judy Mosley

In today's episode, host Joe Colantonio sits down with Judy Mosley, a QA engineer at TextUs with over nine years of experience in the tech industry. Judy shares her unconventional journey from being a stay-at-home mom to becoming a respected figure in the QA world. She discusses how a development bootcamp sparked her passion for testing and her value in breaking things (and occasionally frustrating developers!). Judy discusses the importance of mentorship, continuous learning, and building commu...

May 18, 202528 min

European Accessibility Act: What Software Testers Need to Know (Actionable Guide) with Laveena Ramchandani

Today's episode is a little different. I'm sharing a recording from one of our monthly live Automation Guild member trainings, and trust me, it's a session every software tester should hear. Get instant access to Automation Guild: https://testguild.me/youtubeGuild ** Use code youtube30 to get 30% off. We'll discuss an essential topic for anyone involved in software development: accessibility and the upcoming European Accessibility Act. Listen in as accessibility advocate and testing expert Lavee...

May 11, 202552 min

Testing AI's Promises with Michael Bolton

In today's episode, I continue my conversation with legendary software testing expert Michael Bolton as we explore the world of artificial intelligence and its impact on testing. Checkout this weeks sponsor: https://testguild.me/ailowcode I know I tend to have really pro AI testing experts, and I wanted to give another point of view to balance things out. I can't think of anyone more perfect to do that than Michael So, is AI truly the revolution it's marketed to be? Listen to hear how Michael cu...

May 04, 202546 min

The Secret Life of Automation with Michael Bolton

In today's episode, host Joe Colantonio is joined by renowned software testing expert Michael Bolton, who returns to the show after an eight-year hiatus. Join Michael and me at Breakpoint online event: https://testguild.me/breakpoint In part 1 of a two-part series, Michael dives deep into software testing, reflecting on what's changed (and what hasn't!) since their last chat, the impact of emerging technologies like machine learning and AI, and what it really means to "do" software testing in 20...

Apr 27, 20251 hr 1 min

AI's Impact on Testing Careers with Jason Arbon

In this episode, special guest Jason Arbon will be present for a truly eye-opening conversation about the rapidly evolving world of AI-driven software testing. Jason introduces us to the concept of MCP, a powerful AI workflow engine that's changing how testers interact with tools and offers a behind-the-scenes look at the origins of Testers.AI is a platform that automates comprehensive software testing using AI personas tailored for everything from usability to security. In this candid discussio...

Apr 20, 202542 min

How To Optimize your Automation CI/CD Pipelines (and Save Money) with Gaurav Mittal

Welcome to the TestGuild Automation Podcast! In this episode, host Joe Colantonio sits down with Gaurav Mittal, a cybersecurity, data science, and IT expert with over two decades of experience. Gaurav, recognized for his thought leadership in AI and automation with multiple industry awards, shares his insights on making How To Optimize your Automation CI/CD Pipelines in DevOps more cost-effective. Whether you're a test automation engineer or security professional or work with AI/ML, you'll want ...

Apr 06, 202527 min

Meet JASON HUGGINS, The Genius Behind Selenium!

Welcome to another episode of the TestGuild Automation Podcast! This time, we're diving into the archives by honoring SeleniumConf in Valencia, Spain, with a special rerelease of an interview recorded back in 2017. Join your host, Joe Colantonio, as he sits down with Jason Huggins, the legendary creator of Selenium. Recorded live during the hustle and bustle of SeleniumConf that year, Joe takes us back to the origins of Selenium with this remarkable founder's journey. Jason dives deep into the s...

Mar 30, 202530 min

Proactive Observability in Testing with Anam Hira

In today's episode, we're diving into proactive observability and testing with our special guest, Anam Hira, cofounder of Reveal.ai. Anam, who also has experience working at Uber AI, shares an intriguing journey where he developed "Dragon Crawl," an innovative project aimed at tackling challenges Uber faced with its end-to-end testing across multiple cities. We explore how Dragon Crawl utilized LLMs to enhance testing reliability, making tests less flaky across varied UIs. Anam's journey didn't ...

Mar 23, 202522 min

Testing ML Pipeline Best Practices to Scale with LakshmiThejaswi Narasannagari

In this episode of the TestGuild Automation Podcast, host Joe Colantonio chats with machine learning engineer Lakshmithejaswi Narasannagari, who boasts over fourteen years of experience working with tech giants like Intuit, Incom, and Poshmark. Check out App Automate: https://testguild.me/appautomate2 Lakshmi delves into her fascinating career journey from Oracle developer to transitioning into machine learning operations and test automation. The conversation covers best practices for ML pipelin...

Mar 16, 202528 min

Swift Driver for Appium Automation Testing with Dalton Alexandre

In this episode, Joe Colantonio sits down with Dalton Alexandre, a self-taught Swift developer who has recently developed a new Swift driver for the Appium framework. Streamline Your Mobile App Testing now: https://testguild.me/applive2 Dalton shares his journey from developing iOS applications to creating this innovative driver. He discusses the motivations behind choosing Swift, the challenges in creating a bare-bones project, and the benefits of contributing to open-source projects like Appiu...

Mar 09, 202527 min

Tackling Enterprise Testing Challenges with AI with Srirang Srikantha

In this episode of the TestGuild Automation Podcast, host Joe Colantonio delves into the challenges of test automation in enterprise environments, focusing on key issues like scalability, maintainability, and the complexity of modern applications. Joining Joe is special guest Srirang Srikantha from Tenjin, a cutting-edge platform leveraging AI-driven intelligence to revolutionize enterprise test automation. With over 25 years of expertise in technology innovation and a deep understanding of the ...

Mar 02, 202531 min

Mastering Robot Framework Techniques at RoboCon Online with Guido Demmenie, Kelby Stine and Manana Koberidze

In today's installment, our host, Joe Colantonio, invites Guido, Manana, and Kelby, seasoned experts in automation testing and Robot Framework enthusiasts, to dive deep into the world of Robot Framework and RoboCon. As they gear up for the all-online RoboCon event this March, our guests share their unique journeys with the Robot Framework and the intriguing reasons behind their choice of this powerful automation tool. From Manana's admiration for its clean, tidy test code and impressive reportin...

Feb 23, 202534 min

From Laid Off to Employed (Survival Guide) with Robert Lukenbill

In this episode of the TestGuild Automation Podcast, we're diving into a top-rated session from the recent Automation Guild, where Robert Lukenbill explores the journey from being laid off to finding new opportunities. Robert shares invaluable insights and personal experiences on how to build an effective support network and strategies to minimize unemployment periods. Throughout this enlightening discussion, Robert emphasizes the importance of maintaining mental fortitude, leveraging support sy...

Feb 16, 202540 min

From Manual QA to Automation Engineer Using AI with Tal Barmeir and Sapnesh Naik

I want to share with you one of our most popular Test Guild webinars "From Manual QA to Automation Engineer Using AI" that took place a few months ago from Tal and Subnesh of BlingIO. BlinqIO is also our Platinum sponsor for our 2025 online Automation Guild taking place Feb 10-15th. Don't miss AutomationGuild25 register now: https://testguild.me/future25 Got big automation testing goals for 2025? But you're not sure how to achieve them without creating hard to maintain automation? Learn What wor...

Feb 02, 202526 min

Top 10 Software Testing Conferences with Joe Colantonio

In today's episode, we'll explore my specially curated list of the top 10 must-attend software testing conferences and events for 2025. See all testing conferences with dates and time: https://testguild.com/software-testing-conferences/ Whether you want to stay ahead in the ever-evolving world of test automation, QA, and software testing, this episode is packed with invaluable insights. We'll explore conferences focused on industry-leading tools like Playwright, Selenium, Appium, Cypress, and Ro...

Jan 26, 202519 min

Solving Test Automation Challenges (2025 Guide) with Chris Trimper

In this special episode, we're delving deep into the pressing challenges that automation engineers face daily and how our upcoming Automation Guild 2025 event is set to tackle these issues head-on. Don't miss it register for Automation Guild now! We'll discuss fresh survey data from over 200 automation professionals and explore pain points like test maintenance headaches, complex environments, AI integration, and much more. We also have some exciting sessions to preview, including techniques to ...

Jan 19, 202538 min

Top 8 Automation Testing Trends for 2025 with Joe Colantonio

Welcome to the TestGuild Automation Podcast! I'm Joe Colantonio, your host. In today's episode, we'll discuss the top automation testing trends for 2025. Don't miss Automation Guild 2025: https://testguild.me/future25 Leveraging insights from our comprehensive surveys dating back to 2018 and combining them with ChatGPT's powerful analysis, we're uncovering the future of automation testing. We'll explore groundbreaking concepts like agentic AI, AI-driven user behavior analysis, the rise of low-co...

Jan 12, 202519 min

Unlocking Robot Framework: RoboCon HELSINKI with Gerwin Laagland, Markus Stahl and Stavroula Ventoura

In today's episode, we're diving deep into the world of Robot Framework with some exceptional guests: Marcus, Gerwin, Stacy, and Stavrola. We'll uncover the financial dynamics, organic growth, and the profound flexibility of Robot Framework that makes it stand out in the automation landscape. Our guests will share their firsthand experiences using Robot Framework for diverse testing needs, and we'll bust some common misconceptions about integrating it with tools like Selenium and Playwright. You...

Jan 05, 202527 min

Ultimate Guide to Selecting Test Automation Solutions with Anna Royzman

Today, you get to listen in to a private Automation Guild monthly session led by Anna Royzman, Founder of A Quality Leadership Institute, Inc. This episode is essential for decision-makers responsible for test automation solutions. It is also invaluable for stakeholders who rely on test automation results to make software release decisions or hire SDETs. Discover the common misconceptions about test automation and discuss its challenges. Failure to address these challenges efficiently can result...

Dec 29, 202443 min

The Software Tester's Journey with Nicola Lindgren and Vernon Richards

Today, we dive deep into how to advance your career in software testing. One tool to help you with testing Journey: https://testguild.me/testmanagement1 We have two incredible guests with us: Nicola Lindgren and Vernon Richards, co-authors of the new book The Software Tester's Journey. Discover vital aspects of a software tester's career. We cover it all, from Nicola's transition into platform management to Vernon's focus on balancing technology, people, and business for career growth. They offe...

Dec 22, 202438 min
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